Justice Department Settles with Ohio Healthcare System over HIV Discrimination

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015     

The Justice Department announced today that, as part of its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, the Department has reached a settlement with Genesis Healthcare System (Genesis) in Ohio to resolve claims that Genesis discriminated against a woman with HIV in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Following an investigation, the Department found that Genesis discriminated against a woman with HIV when one of its primary care physicians refused to accept her as a new patient because of her HIV, despite the fact that she was only seeking a general practitioner for medical care unrelated to HIV. The Department's investigation revealed that it was this doctor's practice to refer any patients with HIV seeking a primary care physician to an HIV specialist. Under the settlement, Genesis must may $25,000.00 to the victim of discrimination, and $9,000.00 as a civil penalty. In addition, it must train its staff on the ADA, develop and implement a non-discrimination policy, and report to the Department every time a person with HIV (or who is suspected of having HIV) is denied or discharged as a patient, with a written justification for the decision.

For more information on the ADA, HIV discrimination, 
and this settlement visit www.ada.gov/aids, 
or 
call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 
or 800-514-0383 (TDD). 

For more information on the Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative visit 
http://www.ada.gov/usao-agreements.htm.